People in Derry and throughout the North are the most likely to suffer a broken bone at some point in their lives compared to elsewhere in Britain, Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan has said..
Mr Durkan was speaking after visiting the ‘Broken Bones Service’ at Altnagelvin Hospital which is evolving a ‘prevention is better than cure’ ethos and found out at first-hand how a specialist team – the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s Fracture Liaison Service – is helping to prevent unnecessary fractures and helping those with osteoporosis.
The Foyle MP was given a presentation on the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) followed by a tour of the facilities and told how recent research from the University of Southampton, funded by the National Osteoporosis Society, illustrated the risk of breaking a bone is 50 per cent higher in Northern Ireland than London.
Researchers examined data from 11.3 million people, provided by GP surgeries across the UK – citing deprivation, rural life and a high prevalence of manual work as key factors behind high fracture rates.
In 2015 alone, almost 600 patients who had broken a bone were seen by the FLS in the Western Trust and assessed for ways to prevent further fracture.
Speaking after the visit, Durkan said: “I was keen to see the work of the FLS team in the Western Trust, especially given that a new study has shown that people in Northern Ireland are the most likely in the UK to suffer a broken bone.
“Whatever the reasons, it is imperative that the top quality Fracture Liaison Services in the Western Trust and across the North are fully resourced and prevent future painful and debilitating fractures.
“This is all the more important when it has been calculated by the National Osteoporosis Society that preventing fractures in this way could save in excess of £10million which could be put back into healthcare.”
Photo shows Mr Durkan, from left,: Edel Rogan, National Osteoporosis Society; Ann-Marie Mullan, Radiologist; Aisling McCloskey, Fracture Outcomes Nurse; Kim Mullan, Radiologist; Rhona Hunter, Fracture Liaison Nurse; Dr David Armstrong, Consultant Rheumatologist; Geraldine McKay, Director of Acute Services; and Mary Lafferty, Assistant Nursing Manager Trauma & Orthopaedics.
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